Process for separating vanadium from uranium.



"I E .14 i r 1 N l WARREN F. BLEECKEB, OF CANONSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA,ASSIGNOR TO THE STANDARD CHEMICAL COMPANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

PROCESS F OR SEPARATING VANADIUM FRoM URANlUM.

No Drawing.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WARREN F. BLEECKER, aresident of Oanonsburg, in the county of Washington and State ofPennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inProcesses for Separating Vanadium from Uranium; and I do hereby declarethe following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention. such as will enable others skilled in the art to which itappertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in processes for separatingvanadium from uranium held in solution,-the object of my presentinvention being to provide a process whereby uranium salts free fromvanadium ganhbe recovered from a solution containing With this object inview, the invention consists in certain novel steps in the process ofseparating vanadium from uranium and recovering salts of the latter, ashereinafter set forth and pointed out in the claims.

My improved process is applicable for treatment of any solution ofuranium and vanadium containing an alkaline carbonate, such as sodiumcarbonate,or the solution may contain (NH,),CO or K CO,,-but forconvenience in describing my improved process, it may be assumed thatthe solution to be treated is a solution of sodium uranyl carbonate andsodium vanadate.

The solution is first heated to a degree preferably not exceeding 90 C.Heated sodium hydroxid is then added in sufficient quantity toprecipitate uranium as a mixtureof sodium uranate and uranyl hydrate.This precipitatecarriesvanadium, and the resultant solution also carriessome vanadium, which latter may be recovered by any suitable subsequenttreatment. The precipitate above referred to, is then filtered andwashed with water. It will then be dissolved in acid, preferably H SOand a solution of uranyl sulfate will be formed. This solution will betreated with a slight excess of sodium carbonate, so as to make thesolution slightly alkaline. This solution will Specification of LettersPatent.

Application filed May 24,1912. Serial No. 699,596. r

Patented Jan. 21, 1913.

then be electrolyzed in a tank, anodes of any desired active metal, suchas iron, copper or nickel, being employed. By this electrical treatment,the vanadium will be precipitated as the vanadate of the anode metal.For instance, if a nickel anode is used, the product would be vanadateof nickel. The uranium will remain in solution and after the solutionhas been sutliciently subjected to the electrolytic act-ion toprecipitate all the vanadium, said solution should be filtered, and theuranium salts, free from vanadium, may be precipitated by any well knownprocess.

Instead of the treatment hereinbefore described, prior to theelectrolytic treatment, the solution of sodium uranyl carbonate andsodium vanadate may be first heated to approximately 90 C. or less, andacid (preferably (H SO added until the solution approaches but does notreach complete neutralization:t-hat is to say,- sufficient acid is addedto nearly neutralize the solution. I then proceed to electrolyze thisslightly alkaline solution as before explained.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent is:

1. The herein described process of recovering uranium salts in solutionfrom a solution containing uranium and vanadium, consisting insubjecting the solution to electrolytic action to precipitate thevanadium, and recovering uranium salts in solution free from vanadium.

2. The herein described process of recovering uranium salts. consistingin making an alkaline carbonate solution containing uranium andvanadium, separating the vanadium from the solution by electrolysis, andrecovering uranium in solution free from vanadium.

3. The herein described process of recovering uranium salts, consistingin making a solution of alkaline uranyl carbonate and alkaline vanadate,treating said solution to precipitate a mixture of alkaline uranate anduranyl hydrate, dissolving the precipitate with acid, treating theresult-ant soluspecification in the presence of two subscribtion torender ilt s1light-1yltl%m1ine, 1then subing witnesses.

'ectin said sig1t1y a a ine so ution to electr lytieaction .toprecipitate the vanae WA BLEECKER' 5 dium, and recovering the uranium insolu- Witnesses:

tion free from vanadium. Y J 0s. A. KELLY,

In testimony whereof, I have signed this HARRY A. KRAELING.

